Under the Dome

Just days away from November, North Carolina still does not have a new comprehensive budget. As Capitol bureau chief and host Dawn Vaughan explains, the battle is actually between Republicans this time — not Republicans and Democrats. The team discusses the reasons for the holdup, including tax fights, plus why a clean Medicaid rebase bill couldn’t make it across the finish line. Host: Dawn Vaugha...

This week, host Dawn Vaughan and reporter Kyle Ingram discuss (so far, successful) efforts by Republicans in the legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map. There’s a long history of redistricting and gerrymandering in North Carolina. In Monster: Maps, Math & Power in North Carolina — a four-part podcast series by former investigative reporter Tyler Dukes — The N&O explores how maps are d...

As Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month comes to a close, host Dawn Vaughan sat down with North Carolina Department of Administration secretary Gabe Esparza, the first Latino member of Gov. Josh Stein’s cabinet. The two discuss Esparza’s journey from the private sector to public service and his background as a third-generation Mexican-American. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest:  Gabe Esparza Executive Produ...

This week, host Dawn Vaughan talks to higher ed reporter Korie Dean about the lack of a state budget impacting performance funding for universities, a new funding method recently approved by UNC Board of Governors. Vaughan and Dean also talk about how a lack of a budget affects current university employees and retirees. Stick to the end for Headliner of the Week, and a professional update from Dea...

This week, Dawn Vaughan, Avi Bajpai, and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi discuss the ongoing disagreement between House and Senate lawmakers over Medicaid funding. They also cover the state budget impasse, which some link to a disconnect between Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall, who has voiced his opposition to funding a new children's hospital. What are the potential consequen...

Host Dawn Vaughan and politics reporter Avi Bajpai discuss the omnibus crime bill that Republicans filed late Sunday, also known as Iryna’s Law, in response to the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte last month. They also talk about other legislative happenings, including mini budget bills awaiting House action, including law enforcement raises and bonuses for the National Guard. Plus, a...

This week, host Dawn Vaughan is joined by reporters Mary Ramsey and Julia Coin from our sister paper The Charlotte Observer. Ramsey covers Charlotte area politics, and Coin covers courts and public safety. Last month’s fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the Charlotte light rail by DeCarlos Brown Jr. has drawn national attention. Coin and Ramsey have been part of the...

This week, host Dawn Vaughan talks to McClatchy D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about what she’s keeping tabs on on Capitol Hill, namely the impending Sept. 30 deadline for Congress to pass 12 appropriations bills in order to prevent a government shutdown. They break down the potential impacts of the federal budget on North Carolina. You’ll also hear about the latest developments in North Ca...

This week, Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Mary Ramsey discuss prominent figures in Charlotte-Mecklenburg politics, particularly Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham and Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham: From Cunningham's controversial speech on immigration, which could lead to a primary challenge, to Cotham's undisclosed surgery and changed political standing and key issues in Charlotte's local elections....

Host Dawn Vaughan talks to higher ed reporter Korie Dean about why North Carolina universities like UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University and Davidson College have significantly increased their spending on lobbying in the first six months of Donald Trump’s second term amid federal funding cuts. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Korie Dean Producer: Kevin Keister Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more...

This week, state politics reporter Kyle Ingram is your guest host. He talks to D.C. correspondent Danielle Battaglia about the anticipated matchup between two high profile candidates in the North Carolina U.S. Senate race: Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Party leader Michael Whatley. Host: Kyle Ingram Guest: Danielle Battaglia Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North...

The Trump administration has enacted several policies and procedures that are making it more difficult for students to obtain visas. That could mean some students aren’t able to make it to the U.S., or North Carolina, in time for fall classes. On the podcast, Korie Dean and Sophia Bailly discuss the short- and long-term impacts of a potential drop in enrollment, covering the implications for on th...

Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by Rep. Brian Turner, a Democrat from Buncombe County. First elected in 2014, Turner served the House and then took a term off, then came back. We talk about why he left and why he came back, and his career from Mills Manufacturing to UNC Asheville. More than a decade later, Turner has a unique perspective of serving under different Democratic House leadership, differen...

Dawn Vaughan, Capitol bureau chief and host of Under the Dome is joined by politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Ronni Butts to talk about the incredibly busy day of veto override votes expected Tuesday in both the House and the Senate of the North Carolina General Assembly. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Avi Bajpai and Ronni Butts Executive Producer: Kevin Keister Want even more North Carolina poli...

This week on Under the Dome, host Dawn Vaughan interviews Staci Meyer, director of the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources. Meyer has spent her entire career in public service across various state agencies. Vaughan and Meyer talk about vacancy rates, recruitment and retention efforts by the state, plus the latest on state employee pay raises. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Staci Meyer Execut...

On this week’s Under the Dome podcast, Kyle Ingram and Danielle Battaglia break down the aftermath of Thom Tillis dropping out of the 2026 Senate race and the impacts of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” on Medicaid, SNAP and other social safety net programs. Host: Kyle Ingram Guest: Danielle Battaglia Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome news...

This week on the Under the Dome podcast, join host Dawn Vaughan and reporters Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean for a deep dive into veto overrides, diversity, equity and inclusion conflicts, and swing votes shaping state policies this summer. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives d...

Host Dawn Vaughan talks to politics team colleague Kyle Ingram and N&O summer interns, Ronni Butts and Sophia Bailly, about U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis announcing he won’t be running for reelection, what this could mean for the remainder of Tillis’ term, and who could step into the race next. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Sophia Bailley, Ronni Butts, Kyle Ingram Producer: Gabi Hartlaub Executive Producer: L...

This week at the North Carolina General Assembly is going to be jam packed. We are in the final week of the legislative long session — sort of. Most policy will be passed during this last week, but not the biggest bill of all: the state budget. Host Dawn Vaughan breaks it all down with politics team colleagues Avi Bajpai and Korie Dean. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guests: Avi Bajpai, Korie Dean Executive P...

Host Dawn Vaughan and WUNC's Colin Campbell talk about how the 2025 long legislative session is going, especially with Republican House Speaker Destin Hall at the helm for the first time. They discuss what and how policy, procedures, politics — and yet, even the schedule — is different under Hall compared to former House Speaker Tim Moore, who is now in Congress. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Colin Ca...

Host Dawn Vaughan interviews North Carolina Rep. Allen Chesser of Nash County about the family tragedy that led to his run for the state House, and the status of his bill about foster care, and why he recruited Democratic Rep. Vernetta Alston to cosponsor. Stay tuned until the end for Headliner of the Week. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Rep. Allen Chesser Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even mor...

On this episode, host Dawn Vaughan talks with McClatchy DC correspondent Danielle Battaglia about Congress’ Big Beautiful Bill and what it means for the state, plus the roles of Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Danielle Battaglia Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and...

Paul Tine became North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles commissioner on May 6, taking over a state agency known mostly these days for long lines and poor customer service. This episode includes highlights from an interview with Tine. He sat down with The News & Observer's transportation reporter Richard Stradling on Friday, May 9, 2025, his fourth day in office. The interview has been edited...

Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by K-12 education reporter T. Keung Hui and politics reporter Avi Bajpai to discuss what’s in the NC House budget, including cuts, a UNC System tuition increase, and what the House wants to do in the areas of education and public safety. Host: ⁠Dawn Vaughan⁠ Guests: T. Keung Hui & Avi Bajpai Executive Producer: Kevin Keister ⁠ Want even more North Carolina politics news...

Host Dawn Vaughan interviews Rep. Jake Johnson, a Polk County Republican, about his early start in politics and what’s going on in the North Carolina House of Representatives, from the upcoming state budget to crossover to his role on the House Oversight Committee. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest:  Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter...